About Assumption · David City, Nebraska
Assumption (also known as Assumption-Appleton or simply Appleton) is a small Catholic mission parish located in the rural countryside north of David City, Nebraska, in the Lincoln Diocese. It has served Czech-heritage farming families south of the Platte River since 1877, and has been a mission of St. Mary's Parish in David City since 1969. The parish gathers for Sunday Mass and devotions in the church originally built and dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1891, and is currently cared for by Rev. Brian Connor of St. Mary's David City. Worship, faith formation, fellowship, and outreach (especially through the PCCW) remain the heartbeat of this long-standing rural community.
- Established
- 1877
- Patron
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Brian Connor
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska
Why belong here
Assumption is a small, multi-generational Czech-heritage Catholic mission that has gathered the same farming community for worship since 1877. Parishioners find a tight-knit family atmosphere, weekly Sunday Mass, Sunday confessions before Mass, a PCCW that knits the community together through service projects, and direct pastoral care from the priests of St. Mary's David City. For Catholics living in the Appleton/David City countryside, Assumption offers the rare gift of an historic rural mission church where faith, family, and heritage are celebrated together.
Mass times at Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:30 a.m.
Parish History & Heritage
The Assumption-Appleton community traces its roots to 1873, when Czech settlers from Moravia began homesteading the prairie north of present-day David City. The first church, dedicated as St. Mary Church in Appleton, was built in 1877 — the third Catholic church built by Czech settlers south of the Platte River. After a severe windstorm destroyed it in 1890, parishioners built a new and larger church dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1891 at a cost of $2,000; that building still stands as the heart of the parish. The early community weathered devastating hardships, including the Great Blizzard of 1888 and a 1909 windstorm that moved the church off its foundation. In 1922 the parish built a rectory for under $4,000 and welcomed its first resident pastor, Rev. Frantisek Cerny, in 1923. Since 1969 Assumption has been a mission of St. Mary's, David City, and the parish celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2002 with a major interior restoration.
- 1873 — Czech (Moravian) settlers arrive in the area
- 1877 — First St. Mary Church built in Appleton
- 1888 — Great Blizzard devastates the settlement
- 1890 — Windstorm destroys the original church
- 1891 — New church dedicated to the Assumption of the BVM ($2,000)
- 1891–1897 — Monthly Mass served by traveling priests
- 1897–1921 — Served by a priest from Abie and Bruno
- 1909 — Another windstorm moves the church off its foundation
- 1922 — Rectory built for under $4,000
- 1923 — Rev. Frantisek Cerny becomes first resident pastor
- 1969 — Becomes a mission of St. Mary's, David City
- 2002 — 125th anniversary; major interior renovation
Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) / Altar Society
The PCCW (also known as the Altar Society) is the active women's organization of Assumption Parish and the engine of much of its community and charitable life. The PCCW hosts parish fellowship events, supports parish fundraising (notably the annual Soup Supper), and reaches out to local nursing homes and Catholic Social Services. The 2024–2026 PCCW president is Judy Weston.
- 2024–2026 PCCW President: Judy Weston
- Annual Soup Supper
- Coffee and rolls after Mass
- Bingo at David City nursing homes
- Baby quilts for Birthright and Catholic Social Services
- Advent Baby Shower for Birthright
- Catholic Social Services food collections
- LDCCW Annual Diaper Drive
- Support for St. Gianna's House
Parish Council
Assumption's Parish Council includes lay members elected to help guide the mission parish's life and operations alongside the supervising pastor of St. Mary's, David City.
- Jerome Andel
- Kevin Andel
Clergy & Pastoral Care
Assumption Parish is served as a mission by the pastoral team of St. Mary's, David City. The current supervisor of the mission is Rev. Brian Connor, pastor of St. Mary's. Diocesan Spiritual Advisors for the LDCCW David City Deanery include Rev. Thomas Lux and Rev. Thomas McGuire.
- Rev. Brian Connor — Pastor of St. Mary's, David City / supervisor of the Assumption mission
- Rev. Frantisek Cerny — First resident pastor (1923)
- Rev. Thomas Lux — LDCCW Spiritual Advisor (David City Deanery)
- Rev. Thomas McGuire — LDCCW Spiritual Advisor (David City Deanery)
Diocese & Deanery
Assumption (Appleton) belongs to the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, and is part of the David City Deanery. It is officially listed as a Mission of St. Mary, David City in the diocesan directory.
- Diocese: Diocese of Lincoln
- Deanery: David City
- Status: Mission to St. Mary, David City
Facilities & Location
The Assumption church sits in rural Butler County north of David City, on a five-acre tradition of Czech settlement. The street address is 1821 38th Road (State Spur 12, off Highway 15); parish mail goes to 580 I St, David City, NE 68632, the address of St. Mary's, David City. The church interior was restored in 2002, and a bathroom and reception area were added at that time.
- Street Address: 1821 38th Road (State Spur 12; off Hwy 15), David City, NE 68632
- Mailing Address: 580 I St, David City, NE 68632
- Parish phone (through St. Mary's, David City): 402-367-3579
- 1891 church (renovated 2002)
- 1922 rectory
- On-site parish cemetery
Getting Involved
Because Assumption is a small rural mission, almost every parishioner plays a role in keeping the parish alive. The PCCW and Parish Council are the main vehicles for lay leadership, fellowship, and service, and visitors or new parishioners are warmly welcomed into both. For sacramental preparation, faith formation, and other parish-wide ministries, the parish coordinates with St. Mary's, David City.
- Join the PCCW / Altar Society
- Serve on the Parish Council
- Volunteer for the annual Soup Supper
- Help with Christmas and Advent outreach (Birthright Baby Shower, diaper drive)
- Participate in regular Sunday Mass and Sunday confessions
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Frantisek Cerny1923-?
First resident pastor of Assumption Parish, arrived in spring 1923 after parishioners built a rectory in 1922.